Draft device.



H. J. KLASING.

DRAFT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1908.

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Patented July 20, 1909 HENRY J. KLASING, OF ROME, GEORGIA.

DRAFT DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Application filed June 11, 1908. Serial No. 437,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. KLASING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rome, in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Draft Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in draft devices, and the object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which will be simple and strong in construction, and will operate to permit of teams drawing a greater load than is possible with devices of ordinary con struction.

Nith this and other objects in view my invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of arts, the preferred form of which. will be 1 rst illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings and then the invention particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing wherein the same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs, Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of construction and Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4, 4, of Fig. 3.

In the following specification I will describe my invention as applied to a pair of shafts for a single horse, but it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to double trees where more than one horse is used.

1 designates a pair of shafts and 2 the bolt by which the swingle trees are connected to the shafts, the bolt being provided with the usual yoke 3.

Referring now to the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 4 designates a spring bar which, at the middle of its length is provided with the opening 5 through which the bolt loosely passes to pivot the bar onto the shafts. The ends of the bars are bent at 6 and 6 so that their ends 7 and S extend in opposite directions and parallel to the forward portion carrying the bolt 2. There are thus formed three lengths, lying one behind the other with the ends of the bar at opposite ends to each other. To the ends of the bar are connected the trace hooksin any desired manner, as by means of the yokes 10 having the hooks 1.1 at their end and with the yoke portion passing over the ends of the bent bar and being secured to the free ends by means of the pins or bolts 12.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 I provide a pair of plates 13 between which are pivoted a pair of U-shaped spring levers 14, the levers being connected to the plates at one end by means of the pivots 15, and being reversely arranged so that their opposite hooked ends 16 extend out in op posite directions. Through the levers and side plates I form an opening 17, through which the bolt 2 for securing the swingle tree in position passes.

Where a double tree is desired two of these improved whifi letrees may be connected to the opposite ends of an ordinary swingle tree, or the swingle tree itself may be formed by the spring bars above described with ordinary whiffietrees connected to its ends or both the swingle tree and whii'fletrees may be made in accordance with my invention.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not intend to limit myself to the specific form shown and described.

I claim 1. A whifiietree comprising a pair of spring arms provided with hooks at their outer ends and having a means common. to both for connecting them to the vehicle said arms extending in opposite directions past the connecting means.

2. A whifi'letree comprising a pair of side plates, a pair of U-shaped spring arms arranged in reverse relation to each other and pivotally connected at their ends in opposite sides of the plates, said spring arms at their free ends being provided with hooks for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. KLASING.

Witnesses J. A. JENKINS, J. H. LANE. 

